Vol. xliii.] 58 



weights 206 and 238 mg. Only one egg of the fosterer 

 was with these. I have no reason to doubt the authenticity 

 of the second clutch from N. Devon, May 16, 1901, which 

 has three eggs of the fosterers, the Cuckoos' eggs are large 

 round eggs of a fairly common type : weights 0'269 and 

 0-244 mg. 



There is a record of three Cuckoos' eggs found in the 

 same nest {' Zoologist,' 1906, p. 276), apparently by three 

 different females. 



(Mr. Bunyard then proceeded to criticize Mr. Chance's 

 conclusions as summarized in Brit. Birds, xiv. pp. 320-322 

 in detail, urging that the only new fact recorded was the 

 laying of 21 eggs by one female, which rests on the pre- 

 sumption that they are all the produce of a single bird. 

 Most of the other conclusions, in his opinion, rested upon 

 insufficient evidence or had been previously known and 

 recorded.) 



Now as regards the wonderful work accomplished by 

 Mr. Chance and his co-observers during 1921. The film 

 in itself represents a great triumph — a monument of 

 patience and skill. I still maintain, however, that it does 

 not finally prove the most interesting and important point 

 concerning the actual method of deposition : the film and 

 the photos, both of which I have seen, are not convincing 

 proof that the egg was laid in the nest in the normal way. 

 Owing to the herbage round the nest, the Cuckoo was 

 almost concealed from view, rendering it practically 

 impossible to see what actually occurred. 



The Cuckooes egg may well have been regurgitated into 

 the nest before she took up the egg of the fosterer, but 

 I cannot believe that the organs of a bird are so plastic 

 that she can lay an egg at will — and at a moment's notice. 

 On the other hand, regurgitation would in my opinion he much 

 more easily regulated. 



What Miss Turner actually saw is also, to my mind, 

 equally unconvincing on this particular point. 



Mr. BuNYAED also exhibited a series of British-taken 

 Cuckoo clutches, representing forty-six foster - parents. 

 Those of paiticular interest were as follows : — 



